At first, Edward's expression didn't keep up with his thoughts as Daisy's response came to him as a surprise. But soon he wore an enchanting smile, mesmerizing every heart in the crowd.
"You really know how to present your charm." Daisy teased him while she twitched her lips in annoyance. Now she knew why women constantly threw themselves on him----he seduced them with his charm.
Honey, are you jealous?" Edward whispered in her ear. Their intimacy made a lot of people jealous.
"Jealous? I'm not as narrow-minded as you are." Daisy rolled her eyes at him to show her protest. When they reached Justin's classroom, they were surrounded by a lot of hovering parents. Their obsession made Daisy frown with concern. She pondered, 'All parents are alike. They worry too much about their kids which in some way confines the children's room to grow and undermines their understanding of independence.'
"I'm happy to turn into a jealous fellow for you." Edward quipped, oblivious to the burning eyes fixed on them. He flirted with Daisy as if there was no one else present there.
"Mom, dad, goodbye. As for the jealousy problem, I suggest you discuss it at home." Justin rolled his eyes at them. Edward shouldn't have flirted with Daisy in public. She was too shy to handle it.
"Okay. Have a nice day. We will pick you up after school." Just as Justin had predicted, Daisy blushed with coyness. It made her all the more charming. Her frigidness had diminished, thus making her more approachable.
"But mom, aren't you supposed to go to the army base? I remember your vacation has been over already." Justin looked at Daisy confusedly. He figured it would be too late if he waited for Daisy for picking him up after returning from the army base.
I don't have much to do at the base. So I am planning to extend my vacation? You are not happy with that? You used to love it when I took a few days off." Daisy bent down and caressed his cute nose. As young as Justin was, he cared a lot about Daisy. Back in the day when they lived at the army base, he often asked about her work in case anyone was bullying Daisy. And he often pleaded the commander to give her less work. Yet what he didn't know was that those assignments weren't assigned by the commander, but requested by Daisy herself. Only in this way could she get a quick promotion. Then she could prove to Edward that she was not weak. She knew that Edward didn't notice her efforts, but she never gave up. She was growing stronger just for what Edward had said to her earlier.
"Mom, you are lying, right? The military exercise just ended, so customarily you won't have too much leisure time. Something terrible has happened, right? Is Hank messing with you again?" Justin disliked Hank. At the time when he lived in the base, Hank often called him a "bastard" when there was no one around. In addition, he competed with Daisy for almost everything. Usually, the contest ended in his failure, yet he never learned a lesson from it. He was devious and incompetent.
"No, no one is messing with mom. you focus on your study. Tomorrow will be the last day of my vacation. So don't worry about me." Justin would always be her baby. She felt lucky that she had given birth to him ignoring all the obstacles and consequences. He was the hope that supported her through all the hard times.
"Okay. Mom, dad, goodbye." Justin didn't buy Daisy's words. But he stopped questioning as he knew that no matter how many questions he asked, Daisy wouldn't tell him if she didn't want to. But deep down he was determined to get the answers one way or the other.
Edward envied the intimacy between Daisy and Justin. Their closeness was something he could never have with Justin no matter how much time they spent together. After all, he was not present during their hardest times. But what's done was done. He couldn't go back to those days, and he couldn't blame anyone else for it.
But "Hank" attracted his attention. If he remembered it correctly, Hank was the evil man who plotted with Jessica to impeach Daisy. Edward felt he must meet with Hank and see how bold he really was to mess with Daisy.
After greeting the teachers, they held hands and strolled out of the school. Compared to the nervousness Daisy had felt when she first stepped into the school, she was more poised and composed now, but her face was still full of coldness.
"Would you please come to work with me today?" Edward pleaded the minute they buckled up. He wanted to spend more time with her as they got very little time together.
Can I say no? I know nothing about your job, so I can't be of any help. To make things worse, I might disturb your work." Daisy slanted her head and waited for Edward's reaction. She didn't want to upset Edward, but she really didn't know what she could do there.
"You don't need to do anything. I just want you to stay with me." Edward said while he flicked the wheel with his long fingers. He looked at her, eyes full of expectation.
"Okay. But if you can't finish your work, you can't put that on me." Daisy answered with a sigh. She was always unable to say no to Edward. One pitiful look from Edward made her give up and say yes.
"If that's the case, it'll only prove that you are so tempting that I can't concentrate on my work." Without finishing his words, Edward accelerated the car and drove away for the fear that Daisy might flee out of the car. This way even if she regretted her decision, she would have no choice but to come with him to the office.
Daisy sneered. Edward shouldn't have thought that a speeding car would be enough to stop her from getting off. If she wanted to, she could jump off the car even at the current speed. Jumping-off-the-running-vehicle was a training project to which she had devoted a lot of time and energy in the military school. She almost died because of it. She didn't believe in challenging fate, but she could if she wanted to.
Soon they arrived at the company. Just as they reached the top floor, Edward heard playful laughter coming from inside. His face darkened. As he glanced around, the room fell into silence right away. They all lowered their head and started shuffling their documents, paying no more attention to the culprit who had induced their laughter.
Edward, you are here." The crowd's reaction notified her about Edward's arrival. But she completely ignored Daisy. A minute ago she was boasting herself as Daisy's sister, yet now she wouldn't treat her like one.
"Mary, I clearly remember that I've barred you from entering FX International Group. Why're you here?" Edward was always gentle and elegant in public. But his face fell right now as he wondered what Mary was doing here today.
Edward, my father said that I still have a lot to learn in your company. So here I am." Mary said with a coquettish tone; her eyes were glued to Edward's handsome face.
"Does Ouyang Foreign Trade think that FX International Group is your backyard, where you can come as you please?
I don't think that we are that close." He wanted to destroy the Ouyang family when he thought about all the cruel things they had done to Daisy. But he was aware that he couldn't do it because to Daisy, Leo was her father no matter what he had done. Even if he didn't accept her as his daughter, he was her biological father nevertheless. Besides, there was another person in the Ouyang family that she cared a lot about----Brian. That's why Edward had to refrain himself from ruining the Ouyang clan. But this didn't mean that he had to put up with Mary as well.
Edward, can we talk about this inside? Daisy my dear sister, don't you agree? Mary felt quite embarrassed. Moments ago she was bragging about her closeness with Edward. But now Edward's aloof and distant words presented another reality. She didn't want to become a laughing stock in the company. So now she sought help from anyone to get out of this dilemma, even the person she hated most. --Daisy.
I'm not your sister. But indeed we should go inside so we don't disrupt their work. Daisy sneered. Mary never behaved like her sister. Mary, what are you trying to steal from me this time? I'm interested to know. But I won't give away no matter how hard you try. You should drop the idea already. I'm not that weak Daisy whom you knew a few years ago. Daisy thought to herself.
Edward frown but still moved towards his office. He hadn't planned to waste his time with Mary, but now he had to let her in since Daisy said so.